Saulsbury, Tennessee
Saulsbury is a town in rural Hardeman County, Tennessee. It is located along State Highway 57 in southwest Hardeman County. The population was 99 at the 2000 census and 81 at the 2010 census showing a decrease of 18. Saulsbury is the least-populated incorporated municipality in Tennessee.
History
Saulsbury's historical roots stem from a former settlement named Berlin, Tennessee, which was located one mile south of the current location of Saulsbury. Two regional mail roads—one from Bolivar to Ripley, Mississippi, and another from LaGrange to Corinth, Mississippi. These mail roads met at an intersection which would form into a trading center. In 1839 a post office was established there, and Berlin would be incorporated in 1846, and within five years it would be home to 351 people. Upon the completion of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, Berlin was bypassed due to one landowner's refusal to sell their property to the railroad. A track was instead laid one mile north of Berlin, on land that was owned by Burrell Sauls and Berry Futrell. The finished railroad station and track would be called Sauls-Berry Depot. Eventually Berlin would be deserted as people moved to the new settlement and in 1856 Saulsbury was incorporated.Civil War
Just after the taking of Memphis in 1862, the Union Army took Saulsbury. Skirmishes continued throughout the area, and eventually Saulsbury would return to Confederate control. Confederate soldiers used Saulsbury as a rally point to travel to Corinth to join their regiments. After the Civil War, Saulsbury maintained itself as a town, unlike others in the area which barely survived the war. Saulsbury's cotton production survived the war as well, and Saulsbury emerged as a leader in cotton production in the region. The town also became a producer of eggs, turkeys, poultry and hogs; which were often sent to Memphis for sale. Sand mining became a major industry in the 1870s, providing 47 different types of sand for brass molding.1999 Tornado
On January 17, 1999, an F1 tornado formed just southwest of Saulsbury, and moved northeast until dissipating near Rogers Springs. One person was killed, four others were injured. Fourteen houses and mobile homes were destroyed, and twenty-seven others were damaged. Power lines and trees also sustained significant damage.As a result, the town of Saulsbury installed a tornado siren at the local fire station, the only one in the area at the time.
Geography
Saulsbury is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of, all land.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 99 people, 43 households, and 26 families residing in the town. The population density was. There were 53 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the town was 85.86% White, 12.12% African American, and 2.02% from two or more races.There were 43 households, out of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.5% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.2% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 15.2% from 25 to 44, 29.3% from 45 to 64, and 21.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 110.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,000, and the median income for a family was $41,250. Males had a median income of $26,250 versus $28,125 for females. The per capita income for the town was $10,335. There were 22.2% of families and 29.7% of the population living below the poverty line, including 48.8% of under eighteens and none of those over 64. Most of those living below the poverty line receive federal aid.